overload / being overwhelmed
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being overwhelmed
The state in which the demands placed on a person exceed their mental, physical, or emotional abilities and lead to stress, exhaustion, or failure.
Die ständige Überforderung durch zu viele Aufgaben führte bei ihr zu gesundheitlichen Problemen.
The constant overload from too many tasks led to health problems for her.
The word comes from the verb 'überfordern' (to overwhelm / to overburden). The prefix 'über-' means 'too much' here, and 'fordern' means 'to demand'. 'Überforderung' (being overwhelmed) is therefore literally the state in which too much is demanded of someone.
Lass dich von der neuen Aufgabe nicht überfordern.
Don't let the new task overwhelm you.
Common combinations are 'ständige Überforderung' (constant overload) or 'emotionale/geistige Überforderung' (emotional/mental overwhelm). You can 'unter Überforderung leiden' (suffer from being overwhelmed), or a situation can 'zu Überforderung führen' (lead to overwhelm).
Viele junge Eltern leiden unter der ständigen Überforderung.
Many young parents suffer from the constant overload.
To name the cause of the overload, the preposition 'durch' is very commonly used.
Er fühlte eine starke Überforderung durch die vielen neuen Verantwortungen.
He felt a strong sense of being overwhelmed by the many new responsibilities.
overload
Both words can describe a problematic state caused by having too many tasks. Überlastung places more emphasis on the excessive amount of work or stress. Überforderung emphasizes that the demands exceed a person’s abilities and that they can no longer cope with them.
Weil Lea die neuen Anforderungen nicht bewältigen kann, erlebt sie eine starke Überforderung.
Because Lea cannot cope with the new demands, she is experiencing severe overwhelm.
Die vielen zusätzlichen Aufgaben führen bei Lea zu einer starken Überlastung.
The many additional tasks are causing Lea severe overload.
